Posts from ethanedwards in thread „YouTube Humor“

  • YouTube Humor

    Here's the wikipedia, piece relating to this sketch,
    which was Abbott and Costello's signature one.


    "Who's on First?"


    "Who's on First?" is Abbott & Costello's signature routine. They always referred to it informally as "Baseball." Abbott has organized a new baseball team, and the players have nicknames: the first baseman is named Who, the second baseman What, the third baseman I Don't Know, the pitcher Tomorrow, the catcher Today, the left field Why and so on. Lou gets the pronouns mixed up. Bud and Lou could time the routine at will, adding or deleting portions as needed for films, radio, or television. If their director asked them to fill four minutes, for example, Bud and Lou would do four minutes' worth of the baseball bit. "Who's on First?" is believed to be available in as many as 20 versions, ranging from one minute to about 10 minutes. The longest version is seen in "The Actors' Home," an episode of their filmed TV series, in which "Who's on First?" constitutes the second half of the program. Perhaps the best rendition of the act was a live performance commemorating the opening day of the Lou Costello, Jr. Youth Foundation, in 1947. This special performance was recorded, and has appeared on numerous comedy albums. The team's final performance of "Who's on First?" was seen on Steve Allen's TV variety show, in 1957.